MYRTLE BEACH IS HAVING A MOMENT
An idyllic ocean paradise and the jewel in the crown of South Carolina's Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach has emerged as the hotspot destination in the U.S. – and not just for its 60-mile stretch of pristine beaches. Here’s a curated list of experiences and adventures that will have you falling in love with Myrtle Beach for the first time, or all over again.
ROMANTIC SUNSETS
Myrtle Beach has long been a favorite for families but it’s also a paradise for lovers, honeymooners and weddings. Stroll hand-in-hand along the 1-mile oceanfront boardwalk and promenade to take in the breathtaking beaches and watch the gorgeous sunset. Embark on a romantic sunset sail with Enchanted Sailing Charters to explore the magical Myrtle Beach shoreline and South Carolina waters at dusk on a 44-foot sailboat. Or go on a horseback riding adventure along the beach with Horseback Riding of Myrtle Beach, where your southern cowboy tour guide will point out pods of dolphins, American Bald Eagles, pelicans, starfish, jellyfish, and horseshoe crabs and even serenade you with a song.
SOUTHERN CHARM
Rich in history, tradition and charm, The Grand Strand has 14 different regions, including magical Myrtle Beach and each offers a unique glimpse into the past. Once the hideaway of pirates like Blackbeard and Drunken Jack, this stunning stretch of coastline caught the eye of early British colonists who established settlements and rice plantations. Journey through yesteryear by touring Hopsewee Plantation, built circa 1740, four decades before the American Revolutionary War. This National Historic Landmark, now a private residence in the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, is surrounded by ancient live oak trees dripping in Spanish moss. Explore the home’s wide halls, brick cellar, attics and two original slave cabins, and learn about its current owners, previous residents and the slaves who lived and worked the plantation. Afterward, enjoy lunch or tea at River Oak Cottage, one of the state's best tea rooms.
EPIC WATER ADVENTURES
Given Myrtle Beach's practically year-round balmy temperatures, beyond your sand time, there’s plenty of aquatic action to enjoy, especially for adrenaline junkies. Grab the crew and go for a banana boat ride, try your luck at parasailing or carve up the ocean on a jet ski. If dolphin watching sounds like your idea of the perfect holiday, book a group cruise or private charter with Blue Wave Adventures Dolphin Watch Tour. And let’s not forget the waterparks, three to be exact – Myrtle Waves Water Park, Wild Water & Wheels and Splashes Oceanfront Water Park – where you can get your thrills floating down lazy rivers, braving 100-foot water slide drops and splashing and sliding to your heart’s content.
CULINARY HEAVEN
As foodies embrace the concept of culinary tourism – traveling to a destination to experience its authentic, signature, local fare – it goes without saying that the cuisine in South Carolina is a deeply ingrained part of its culture and allure. The Grand Strand has thousands of restaurant options from the elevated to the laid back, and while the area is famed for its fresh-caught seafood (try Cypress Dining Room at Island Vista), the cuisines range from Lowcountry cooking (traditional fare influenced by the area’s French, West African, and Caribbean past) to classic American fare (the endless steak houses are head-spinning), North Carolina-style Calabash buffets and plenty of delicious Italian, (try Vila Romano).
The best place to sample its legendary seafood is in Murrells Inlet, aka the seafood capital of South Carolina, try The Wicked Tuna for epic views. You’ll find hundreds of Calabash (traditional lightly-breaded fried seafood) toward the northern end of the Grand Strand, while the Southern end is the heart of Lowcountry cooking – you’ll love the stone-ground grits, shrimp, blue crab, grouper and country ham at Sweet Carolina’s BBQ.
WINE TASTING
Myrtle Beach is also making a name for itself as a wine region and the best place to sample the fruits of its labor is at La Belle Amie Vineyard in the quaint town of Little River. Head to the wine-tasting room to sample private-label wines ranging from sweet muscadine to dry reds and bright whites. La Belle Arnie also hosts themed events with live music on the shaded lawn, so bring a picnic blanket. Wine connoisseurs should also make a reservation at SeaBlue Restaurant and Wine Bar in North Myrtle Beach, an elevated steakhouse renowned for its extensive wine list.
ART AND CULTURE FIX
There’s also plenty of art and culture to experience in Myrtle Beach thanks to its many historical museums, art galleries, musicals and theater options. Visit Horry County Museum to see photography, exhibitions and artifacts that showcase South Carolina’s rich history and Civil War era and to explore L. W. Paul Living History Farm, where you can immerse yourself in early 1900s life on a one-horse family farm. History buffs can also learn about the current and past citizens that have played a role in establishing South Carolina’s legacy and heritage at the South Carolina Hall of Fame at Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
And artsy types will love checking out the works of nationally renowned and local artists at Georgetown Art Gallery, Seacoast Artist Gallery and Island Art Gallery. Music lovers will also be delighted to learn of the Carolina Master Chorale, a 70-person symphony community choir that regularly performs choral music, orchestral masterworks, opera, contemporary music, Broadway sensations, vocal jazz and gospel music.
As we look to our backyard for local travel inspiration, hit the open road and head to the oceanfront paradise of Myrtle Beach to immerse yourself in beach relaxation, good old-fashioned Southern charm and the rich history of the Grand Strand. Not that journeying back in time need wait until you get there, as the driving route from Greensboro to Myrtle Beach is filled with historical treasures that warrant a pit stop.
THE ROUTE
Drive Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
Route: Follow US-421 S to US-1 to US-501 S and finally SC-31 to Myrtle Beach.
THE ITINERARY
9:30 am: Depart Greensboro, NC for Sanford, NC.
Grab an espresso, cold brew or latte from hip downtown coffeehouse The Green Bean on Elm and drive south on US-421 S for an hour to Sanford, NC.
10:30 am: Pit stop to explore the historical sites of Sanford, NC.
Explore Sanford’s rich past at The Historic Railroad House. As the oldest home in Sanford, it was built to house the town’s first railway depot agent and his family – and over the years has served as a school, tea house and was saved from demolition to become a historic landmark. Also worth a visit is Priority Farm where you can pet alpacas, Ole Gilliam Mill Park (site of an 1850 corn mill) and the four-decades-old Big Bloomers Flower Farm.
11:30 am: Depart Sanford, NC for Laurinburg, NC.
Get onto US-1 S to US-501 S and drive 1.5 hours south to Laurinburg, NC.
1:00 pm: Lunch and culture fix in Laurinburg, NC.
Enjoy a seafood and steak lunch and the old-timey, homey vibe at Wooly McDuff’s Neighborhood Grille. Then get your culture on by touring John Blue House to learn all about the culture of rural Carolinas before heading to the Cypress Bend Vineyards, a fourth-generation winery specializing in muscadine variety grapes.
3:00 pm: Depart Laurinburg, NC for Latta, SC.
Get onto US-501 S and drive 45 minutes south to Latta.
3:45 pm: Pit stop to explore the historical sites of Latta, SC.
Get a glimpse of the turn of 19th-century life through documents, photographs and memorabilia at the Dillon County Museum (tours are 2 - 4 p.m. or by appointment), constructed in 1915 as a dentist office with a family residence next door (the first two-story home in Latta). And don’t miss Old Vidalia Academy, a one-room schoolhouse built by a local farmer in 1877 for the children of South Carolina’s rural farming communities.
4:30 pm: Depart Latta, SC for Myrtle Beach, SC.
Get on US-501 S and SC-31 drive 1.5 hours to Myrtle Beach, SC.
5:30 pm: Arrive in Myrtle Beach, SC and check into Surfside Oceanfront Hotel.
Located between Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island, Surfside Oceanfront Hotel promises a relaxing seaside escape with stunning ocean views from every room.
7:30 pm: Dinner Time.
Immerse yourself in Lowcountry history through food at Brentwood Restaurant and Wine Bistro, a former 1910 Victorian home (said to be haunted) turned upscale restaurant in Little River serving French meets Lowcountry cuisine.
Your adventure begins here
Your adventure begins here
THE ROUTE
THE ITINERARY
